Composition for photon-energy up-conversion

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a composition for photon energy up-conversion, a system comprising said composition and to uses of said composition and said system.

The present invention relates to a composition for photon energyup-conversion, a system comprising said composition and to uses of saidcomposition and said system.

In a number of systems, it has been observed that irradiation by lightwith longer wavelength causes emission of a light with shorterwavelength. This phenomenon, which is also related to as “frequencyup-conversion” or shortly “up-conversion” is most often associated withhigh light intensities available from pulsed lasers. It is presentlybelieved that the up-conversion process involves the energy transfer ofseveral lower excited states to a single higher excited state which isthen capable of emitting light with a shorter wavelength, i.e. higherenergy. This process has been described for a number of inorganicsystems in the solid state, including crystals, thin films andnanoparticles. Usually the up-conversion process in the crystallinesystems includes “sensitising” components, “activator” components and/ormatrix (crystal) components. Typically the matrix is co-doped with rareearth ions, which act as “sensitisers” as well as “activators”. One ofthe dopands absorbs in the low-wavelength region (typically infrared)whereupon the absorbed photon energies are then transferred to anotherdopand, the activator ions, which emit in the blue or green region (E.L. Falcao-Filho et al. J. Appl. Phys 92, 3065, (2002), Yoh Mita et al.Appl. Phys. Lett. 62, 802 (1992), Trash et al. Journal of OSA Bulletin11, 881 (1994)). Furthermore crystalline nanoparticles have beendescribed, a combination of which is dispersed in host matrices to formthin films. These crystalline nanoparticles also have been shown to becapable of energy up-conversion, which process takes place between thevarious species of nanoparticles and include an energy transfer step(e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,788) or the crystalline nanoparticles act as amatrix for other dopands such as Eu³⁺-ions, Tb³⁺ions, Tb³⁺-ions,Ce³⁺-ions etc., and these dopands upon irradiation of light are capableof increasing the fluorescence intensity and quantum efficiency of thenanoparticles.

These systems are of potential interest for the fabrication of lasingmaterials, photovoltaic devices and so on. Due to the nature of thecomponents involved they are, however, rather expensive in manufactureand furthermore not particularly suited for the preparation of forexample, films over large areas or the preparation on flexiblesubstrates, both of which should be particularly useful for thefabrication of commercially useful photovoltaic devices, such as solarcells.

One approach to address this problem was to use organic compounds,instead of inorganic ones. These organic up-conversion systems are allbased on direct two-photon or multiphoton excitation and/or theexcitation of molecules populating high vibrational states into a firstexcited state, which latter process is also sometimes referred to as“hot band-absorption”. In the direct, i.e. simultanous two-photoexcitation the up-conversion is a result of a direct two-photon pumpingof dyes with large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-section, which dyesare either in solution or in films (including so called “solid”solutions, with inert polymers as an inactive matrix, i.e. a solid“solvent”). This inactive matrix is inactive in the sense that it doesnot take part in the up-conversion process whatsoever. Various systemshave been described, and there is an ongoing search for new organic dyeswith greater TPA-cross-section and TPA-dyes which are bound to polymermolecules or doped in polymer matrices (U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,257, U.S.Pat. No. 6,555,682, U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,405, T. Kojei et al. Chem. Phys.Lett. 298, 1 (1998), G. S. He et al., Appl. Phys. Lett 68, 3549 (1996)R. Schroeder et al., J. Phys.:Condens.Matter 13, L313 (2001); R.Schroder et al., J. Chem. Phys. 116, 3449(2001)). Where TPA-dyes aredoped in polymer matrices, again, the polymers are inactive compoundswhich do not take part in the up-conversion process.

Where the up-conversion is attributed to hot-band absorption, i.e. theexcitation of molecules which populate high vibrational states, thishas, in some cases been used for laser cooling of matter (J. L. Clark etal.Phys Rev. Lett 76, 2037 (1996)) and/or as a temperature probe ofopto-electronic devices (J. M. Lupton, Appl. Phys. Lett 80, 186 (2002)).

Another area of research in the field of organic compounds is the fieldof “optical limiters”. An optical limiting material shows non-linearabsorption characteristics. This is due to the phenomenon that thecross-section of the excited state is large than that of the groundstate. The larger the input energy the more molecules become excitedinto the state having a larger cross-section, thus resulting in anincreasing absorption coefficient. Optical limiters based upon thisnonlinear absorption on the picosecond and nanosecond time-scales havebeen reported for a number of materials, includingmetallophthalocyanins, porphyrins and fullerenes but also inorganicnanoparticles (Qureshi F M et al. Chem. Phys. 231, 87 (1998) and otherreferences cited therein; Sun et al. Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 18(1) 43(1999) and references cited therein; W. Su, T. M. Cooper; Chem. Mater.10, 1212

(1998); J. W. Perry et al., Science 273, 1533 (1996); K. A. Nguen etal., J. Chem. Phys. 118, 5802 (2003.

None of these organic systems, however, have proved to be particularlyversatile due to the inherent characteristics of the up-convertingmaterial present in the corresponding system. Furthermore in most casesup-conversion could only be induced under conditions of very lowtemperatures, −180° C. and below. Also, none of the optical limitingmaterials has been reported to show up-converting behaviour when thismaterial is on its own.

Accordingly it has been an object of the present invention to providefor new materials and compositions capable of photonenergy-up-conversion which compositions show a great versatility withrespect to the radiation wavelengths involved, both incident andemitted. It has also been an object of the present invention to providefor materials and compositions which show an efficient up-conversionbehavior even at low pump (i.e. irradiation) intensities. It has alsobeen an object of the present invention to provide for materials andcompositions which show an efficient up-conversion behaviour underambient conditions, i.e. room temperature. Furthermore it has been anobject of the present invention to enable such versatility also incompositions which are suitable for film-formation over large areas,thereby enabling the production of tailor-made opto-electronic devices.

All these objects are solved by a composition for photon energyup-conversion comprising at least two components, wherein a firstcomponent is capable of absorbing energy at a first wavelength regionw≦λ₁≦x, which first component acts as a sensitiser in said composition,and wherein a second component is capable of emitting energy at a secondwavelength region y≦λ₂≦z, which second component acts as an emissivecomponent in said composition, wherein λ₂≦λ₁, and wherein, uponabsorption of energy by said first component at said first wavelengthregion λ₁, said emissive component emits energy at said secondwavelength region λ₂, characterized in that said first component and/orsaid second component is an organic compound.

Preferably, said first component is a first organic compound and saidsecond component is a second organic compound.

In one embodiment, said first component is neither covalently bonded norcomplexed to said second component.

In another embodiment, said first component is covalently bonded to saidsecond component, preferably in a manner that the two respectivecomponents can be distinguished by their physical location within theresulting molecule.

In another embodiment, said first component is complexed to said secondcomponent, with the proviso that the resulting comples shows anup-conversion behaviour which is based on sequential two-photon ormulti-photon excitation.

In one embodiment, said first and said second organic compounds aredifferent compounds.

In one embodiment, said organic compound, in particular said first andsaid second organic compound, is a carbon-containing compound, with theproviso that it is not a hydrogen-free chalcogenide of carbon, aderivative thereof, a salt-like carbide, a metallic carbide or ametal-carbonyl.

Preferably, said emissive component's emitting energy at said secondwavelength region λ₂ is due to an up-conversion process based on director sequential two-photon excitation or on direct or sequentialmulti-photon excitation or on excitation of molecules populating highvibrational state(s) (“hot-band absorption”), which up-conversionprocess occurs upon absorption of energy by said first component (i.e.sensitiser) at said first wavelength region λ₁.

In one embodiment, said second wavelength region λ₂ is in the range360-750 nm and said first wavelength region λ₁ is in the range 500-1500nm.

It is preferred that said first (i.e. sensitiser) component is anorganic dye, in particular a TPA-dye, or an optical limiting compound,including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanoparticles orinorganic nanocrystals.

It is furthermore preferred that said second (i.e. emitter) component isan organic dye or an inorganic emissive component. In one embodiment atleast one of said first component (i.e. sensitiser) and said secondcomponent (i.e. emitter) is an organic component, where, if thesensitiser is an organic component, it is an organic dye, a directand/or sequential two-photon absorbing dye, i.e. a TPA-dye, or anyoptical limiting compound, a fullerene or carbon nanotubes.

In a preferred embodiment said first component (i.e. sensitiser) is afirst organic dye and said second component (i.e. emitter) is a secondorganic dye, wherein said first and said second organic dyes aredifferent.

In one embodiment said organic dye, in particular said first and/or saidsecond organic dye is selected from the group comprising organic dyescapable of direct and/or sequential two-photon excitation, organic dyescapable of direct and/or sequential multi-photon excitation, and organicdyes capable of hot-band absorption.

In one embodiment, said organic dye, in particular said first and/orsaid second organic dye, is selected from the group comprising styryldyes, benzothiazole-containing two-photon chromophores, polyfluorenes,polyparaphenylenes, porphyrins, phthalocyanins, phthalocyanin complexes,xanthenes and, rhodamines, wherein preferably said first organic dye(i.e. sensitiser) is selected from the group comprising compoundsshowing non-linear absorption characteristics, e.g. direct or sequentialtwo/multi-photon absorbing dyes, in particular optical limitingcompounds. More preferably the sensitiser is selected from the grooupcomprising: direct TPA dyes—styrylö dyes, benzothiazole-containing TPAchromphores, donor-acceptor para substituted aromatic compounds, e.g.with a structure D-Ar-A, xanthenes and rhodamines, perylene derivatives,optical limiting compounds (sequential two/multiphotonabsorption)—porphyrins and phthalocyanins (including metalloporphyrinsand metallophthalocyanins), metallonaphthalocyanines, porphyrin andphthalocyanin complexes (includingb metalloporphyrins andmetallophthalocyanins, as well as dimers and polymers or arrays ofporphyrin and phthalocyanin molecules (including metalloporphyrins andmetallophthalocyanins), indanthrone derivatives and oligomers.

More preferably, the sensitiser is selected from the group comprisingporphyrins and phthalocyanins, including metalloporphyrins, (includingCu—, Pd—, Zn—, Pt-porphyrins), metallophthalocyanins, porphyrincomplexes, phthalocyanin complexes, dimers/polymers as well as arrays ofporphyrin or phthalocyanin molecules. Said second organic dye (i.e.emitter) is preferably selected from the group comprising compoundsshowing fluorescence emission in the range 360-750 nm, in particularfluorescent dyes showing fluorescence emission in the range 360 nm-750nm, e.g. polyfluorenes and oligofluorenes (with or without any sidechainpattern) and their copolymers, polyparaphenylenes, includingpolyparaphenylene vinylene, and polyphenyleneethinylenes.

More preferably, said first organic dye (i.e. sensitiser) is aporphyrin, or a metalloporphyrin in particularOctaethylporphyrin-Palladium (or —Pt or —Cu or —Zn), or a phthalocyanin,and said second organic dye (i.e. emitter) is a polyfluorene oroligofluorene (with or without (different) side chain patterns), inparticular PF {fraction (2/6)}. It should be noted that, in oneembodiment of the present invention, where the sensitiser and theemitter are organic compounds, which may be polymerisable, these may beoccurring in the same polymer, i.e. they may form part of the samepolymer molecule, either as block copolymer or random copolymer or asensitiser/or emitter polymer wherein the respective other componentforms end-capping groups. This may e.g. be a polymer of sensitisercomponents which is end-capped with emitter components, or vice versa.Polymers as just described are examples of where the two components arecovalently bonded to each other.

In one embodiment, said first and said second component are dispersedinto a matrix, wherein, preferably, said matrix does not take part in anup-conversion-process.

In one embodiment, said first component is dispersed into a matrixformed by said second component.

In another embodiment, said second component is dispersed into a matrixformed by said first component.

In yet another embodiment, said first component forms a first layer andsaid second component forms a second layer on top of or underneath saidfirst layer.

In another embodiment, said first and said second components form amulti layer structure, wherein said first component is present in afirst subset of layers and said second component is present in a secondsubset of layers, which first subset of layers is the same or differentor partially the same as said second subset of layers. In one embodimentthe concentrations of said first and said second component vary fromlayer to layer within their respective subset of layers. It should benoted, that the only criterion which needs to be ensured for theselayered structures is that a successful energy transfer between saidfirst and said second components may take place. This can be achieved bychoosing, the appropriate thickness of these layers, which thickness ofeach layer may lie in the range of from 1-100 nm, preferably 1-50 nm,more preferably 1-20 nm, most preferably 1-10 nm.

In an alternative embodiment, said first and said second components froma multilayer structure, wherein said first and said second componentsare present together as a composition in all or a subset of layers,wherein, preferably, their concentration, i.e. the concentration of thiscomposition of said first and said second component, is varied fromlayer to layer.

The objects of the invention are also solved by a photon-energyup-conversion system comprising:

-   -   a substrate,    -   the composition as defined above.

Preferably, the system according to the present invention is aphotovaltaic device, in particular a solar cell, or which is an LED, alasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemical sensor, a temperaturesensor, or a label, preferably in biological/biochemical systems.

The objects of the invention are also solved by the use of thecomposition or the system according to the present invention, in a solarcell, an LED, a lasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemicalsensor, a temperature sensor, or a label, preferably inbiological/biochemical systems.

The objects of the present invention are furthermore solved by acomposition for photon energy up-conversion comprising host moleculesand guest molecules, wherein said host molecules emit light uponexcitation of said guest molecules, or wherein said guest molecules emitlight upon excitation of said host molecules, characterized in that saidhost molecules and/or said guest molecules are organic molecules,wherein, preferably, said organic molecules are carbon-containingmolecules, with the proviso that they are not hydrogen-freechalcogenides of carbon, their derivatives, salt-like carbides, metalliccarbides or metal-carbonyls.

In one embodiment, said guest molecules are capable of absorbing energyat a first wavelength region w≦λ₁≦x, which guest molecules act assensitising molecules in said composition, and wherein said hostmolecules are capable of emitting energy at a second wavelength regiony≦λ₂≦z, which host molecules act as emissive molecules in saidcomposition, wherein λ₂≦λ₁, and wherein, upon absorption of energy bysaid guest molecules at said first wavelength region λ₁, said hostmolecules emit energy at said second wavelength region λ₂, orcharacterized in that said host molecules are capable of absorbingenergy at a first wavelength region w≦λ₁≦x, which host molecules act assensitising molecules in said composition, and wherein said guestmolecules are capable of emitting energy at a second wavelength regiony≦λ₂ 2 ≦z, which guest molecules act as emissive molecules in saidcomposition, wherein λ₂≦λ₁, and wherein, upon absorption of energy bysaid host molecules at said first wavelength region λ₁, said guestmolecules emit energy at said second wavelength region λ₂.

In one embodiment, said host molecules are selected from the groupcomprising compounds showing non-linear absorption characteristics, inparticular direct and/or sequential two/,ultiphoton absorbing dyes. Morepreferably, where host molecules act as sensitisers, said host moleculesare selected from the group comprising porphyrins and phthalocyanins,including metalloporphyrins, metallophthalocyanins, alkylporphyrins,porphyrin complexes, alkylporphyrin-metal complexes, phthalocyanincomplexes, dimers/polymers as well as arrays of porphyrin orphthalocyanin molecules. Where the guest-molecules act as emitters, saidguest molecules are preferably selected from the group comprisingcompounds showing fluorescence emission in the range 360-750 nm, inparticular fluorescent dyes showing fluorescence emission in the range360 nm-750 nm, e.g. polyfluorenes and oligofluorenes (with or withoutany sidechain pattern) and their copolymers, polyparaphenylenes,including polyparaphenylene vinylene, polyphenyleneethinylenes, morepreferably polyfluorenes with alkyl sidechains and/or end-cappinggroups, e.g. PF{fraction (2/6)}.

More preferably, said sensitiser is porphyrin, in particularOctaethylporphyrin-Palladium (or Cu, Zn, Pt), or a phthalocyanin, andsaid emitter is a polyfluorene or oligofluorene (with or without(different) side chain patterns), in particular PF {fraction (2/6)}.

In one embodiment, said guest molecules are neither covalently bondednor complexed to said host molecules.

In one embodiment, said guest molecules and said host molecules aredispersed into a matrix, wherein, preferably, said matrix does not takepart in an up-conversion process.

In one embodiment, said guest molecules are dispersed into a matrixformed by said host molecules.

In another embodiment, said host molecules are dispersed into a matrixformed by said guest molecules.

In yet another embodiment, said guest molecules form a first layer andsaid host molecules form a second layer on top of or underneath saidfirst layer.

In yet a further embodiment, said guest molecules and said hostmolecules form a multi-layer structure wherein said guest molecules arepresent in a first subset of layers and said host molecules are presentin a second subset of layer, which first subset of layers is the same ordifferent or partially the same as said second subset of layers.

The objects of the present invention are also solved by a photon-energyup-conversion system comprising:

-   -   a substrate,    -   the composition as defined above, wherein, preferably the system        is a photovoltaic device, in particular a solar cell, or which        is an LED, a lasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemical        sensor, a temperature sensor, or a label, preferably in        biological/biochemical systems.

The objects of the present invention are furthermore solved by the useof the composition or the system as defined above in a solar cell, LED,a lasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemical sensor, atemperature sensor, or a label, preferably in biological/biochemicalsystems.

All of the organic systems described in the prior art (see above) onlyhave one active component present, i.e. active in the sense of showingan up-conversion activity. In this single active component, theabsorption and emission takes place at and within the same type ofmolecule. Thereby, the application of such a system is greatly limitedby the inherent characteristics of this molecule, and typicallyup-conversion only takes place at very low temperatures. The presentinventors have found, however, that by using more than one activecomponent in a system/composition, the process of absorption can beseparated from the process of emission and can also be separatelyinfluenced, depending on the choice of material used for each purpose.Also, most surprisingly, systems can be created wherein the individualcomponents, when on their own, do only show very inefficientup-conversion-activity i.e. they require high light intensities and verylow temperatures. Some compounds show up-conversion as a result of adirect two-photon excitation, but the irradiation intensities (“pumpingintensities”) need to be very high (GW (cm²)). This is for example thecase with polyfluorenes. If a sensitiser is direct two-photon excitedand is also capable of up-conversion itself, or if the sensitiser hasoptical limiting characteristics, a much more efficient up-conversioncan be achieved via energy transfer to an emitter (i.e. secondcomponent), e.g. a polyfluorene. This also surprisingly works if thesensitiser is an optical limiting compound, whereby energy transfertakes place from the higher excited states of the sensitiser to thesecond (i.e. emitter) component which then emits up-converted radiation.Up till now there has been no report on up-conversion process involvingthese higher excited states of optical limiting components.

The first and second (and third, fourth, etc. . . . ) active component(i.e. emitters and sensitisers) are chosen such that the excited energylevels of the “sensitiser” component(s) (the component absorbing energy)match the energy level of the emitter component(s). Also severalsensitisers can act in a series provided their respective energy levelsmatch.

In particular, in some embodiments of the invention, a “sensitiser” is anon-linear absorber which means that it shows absorption characteristicswhich do not show linear behavior, in particular with light at highincident irradiation. Where the absorption is the result of a directtwo-photon-excitation process, the sensitiser has to have a high enoughTPA cross-section. In the case where there is a sequentialtwo-multi-photon excitation, whereby the sensitiser becomes an opticallimiting compound, in most cases it is a reverse seturable absorber(RSA). These systems are defined as having an absorption in the excitedstate (singlet or triplet) higher than the absorption of the groundstate. Their absorption scheme is usually described in a five- orsix-level model, which is shown in FIG. 8. In this figure, S0 is theground singlet state, S1, Sx, Sn—the excited singlet states, T1 and Tnare the triplet states. σ01, σ12 and σ34 are the correspondingabsorption cross-sections, k10, k21 and k43 are the corresponding decayrates. The performance of these compounds is characterized by the ratioof the excited state—to the ground-state-absorption (including singletand triplet levels) and by the saturation intensity or fluence. For agood performance (i.e. for a good up-conversion behavior) the ratio ofthe excited-state-absorption to ground-state-absorption is large,whereas the saturation intensity or fluence is low.

The “emitter” component (i.e. the second component) ought to have anemissively relaxing excited energy level at a position to which theexcitation energy transfer can take place from any of the high excitedstates (i.e. singlet Sn or triplet Sn) of the sensitiser component.Furthermore a higher fluorescence quantum efficiency of the emittercomponent is important and preferred.

By the present invention a greater versatility is achieved in that thepossibility to combine the properties of at least two independentlyactive compounds, a new system/composition is created having a varietyof properties which are not shown by each component, when on its own.For example, the absorbing molecules, i.e. “sensitiser” molecules can bevaried, whereby the lower energy wavelengths to be up-converted can bevaried. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the emissive molecule canbe varied thereby allowing a variation of the higher energy wavelengthsof the up-converted emission. In using at least one organic compound,either as sensitiser or as emitter, or by using organic compounds forboth, it is also possible to make use of the good film-formingproperties of organic compounds thereby making the compositionsaccording to the present invention particularly amenable for large-areaopto-electronic devices.

As used herein the term “organic” is used in its generally understoodmeaning, i.e. it refers to compounds which are carbon-containingcompounds. As it is used here, it also includes elemental carbon, atleast in the form of fullerenes. The term “organic” is further meant toexclude specific carbon-containing compounds such as: hydrogen-freechalkogenides of carbon, e.g. CO, CO₂, CS₂, and derivatives thereof,e.g. H₂CO₃, KSCN; further excluded are salt-like carbides which arebinary compounds of elements with carbon, which decompose tohydrocarbons under the influence of water or dilute acids. Salt-likecarbides have the general formula M^(I) ₂C₂ or M^(II)C₂, wherein M^(I)or M^(II) denotes a metal ion with one or two valences. Salt-likecarbides of calcium, silver and copper decompose to acetylene, thesalt-like carbide of aluminium (Al₄C₃) decomposes to methane. Furtherexcluded carbon-containing compound which do not form part of the term“organic” are metallic carbides, which are non-stoichiometric compoundshaving the character of an alloy. They are resistant to acids and areelectrically conducting. Further excluded from the term “organic”, asused herein, are metal-carbonyls where carbon monoxide molecules arecoordinatively bound to elemental metal atoms, for example iron carbonyl(e.g. Fe₂(Co)₉,Fe₃(Co)₁₂, chromium carbonyl Cr(Co)₆, cobalt carbonyl(Co₂(CO)₈, nickel carbonyl Ni(CO)₄ etc.).

As used herein, the term “nanoparticles” is meant to denote particleswhich have a size in the range of 1-750 nm, preferably 5-500 nm, or morepreferably 5-250 nm. These nanoparticles may also exhibit crystallinebehaviour in which case they are also referred to as “nanocrystals”.

As used herein, the term “nanotubes” is meant to denote tube-likestructures preferably of carbon, the dimensions of which are of the sameorder of magnitude as of “nanoparticles”, as defined above.

As used herein the terms “host molecules” and “guest molecules” aremeant to denote two types of molecule, different from each other,wherein the molecules, which are referred to as “guest molecules”, areembedded in a matrix formed by the (other) molecules, referred to as“host molecules”.

Reference is now made to the figures, wherein

FIG. 1 shows absorption spectra of a polyfluorene (PF{fraction(2/6)}=poly(2,7-(9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene) which acts as emissivecomponent in a composition where different concentrations ofoctaethylporphyrin-Pd(PdOET) are dispersed as sensitiser molecules,

FIG. 2 shows the structure of molecules, which were successfully used asemitters and/or sensitisers according to the present invention, inparticular of polyfluorenes, metalloporphyrins and phthalocyanins,

FIG. 3 shows the phenomenon of up-conversion, wherein PF{fraction (2/6)}is doped with 1 wt. % PdOET and is pumped (i.e. irradiated by laser)with 40 μW at 405 nm (quasi continuous wave (cw) laser beam) (FIG. 3 a),with 120 mW at 532 nm (FIG. 3 b) and with both wavelengths at theaforementioned intensities (FIG. 3 c), all irradiations are for 200 ms;

FIG. 4 shows the up-conversion process, where PF{fraction (2/6)} isdoped with different concentrations of PdOET (0.3 wt. %, 1 wt. %, 10 wt.%, and 2 wt. %, 3 wt. %, 4 wt. %), where the integrated blue signal,i.e. intensity, is plotted against the power of the irradiation of theexcitation wavelength,

FIG. 5 shows the phenomenon of up-conversion, wherein PF{fraction (2/6)}as emitter is doped with 1 wt. % PdOEP as the sensitiser,

FIG. 6 shows the phenomenon of up-conversion, wherein PF{fraction (2/6)}as an emitter is doped with 3 wt. % of plastocyanin (Pc) as asensitiser,

FIG. 7 shows the phenomenon of up-conversion, illustrating thedependence of the integral intensity of the up-converted PF{fraction(2/6)} emission on the pumping intensity, wherein the emitter isPF{fraction (2/6)} doped with 3 wt. % of different metal porphyrinsensitisers (metals are Pt, Cu, Pd, Zn), wherein

FIG. 7 a) shows the values for PF{fraction (2/6)} emission, with aPtOEP-sensitiser, which values are divided by three, (div. by 3) forreasons of comparison with other metalloporphyrins,

FIG. 7 b) shows the uncorrected PF{fraction (2/6)} emission values,(i.e. not divided by 3)

FIG. 8) shows a 5-level scheme of optical limiting compounds.

The invention is now further described with reference to the followingexamples which are hereby given not to limit but to illustrate theinvention.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 1 shows the absorption spectra of a Polyfluorene (PF26 orPF{fraction (2/6)}) (=poly(2,7-(9,9-bis(2-ethylhexyl)fluorene (emissivemolecules) and PF26 with dispersed different concentrations ofOctaethylporphyrin-Pd (PdOEP) (sensitiser molecules).

EXAMPLE 2

The following compounds have been successfully used as emitters and/orsensitisers in the present invention:

a) Polyfluorenes, as Shown in FIG. 2 a

The side-chain-pattern might vary. This is the structure used in theexamples with varying molecular weight. End-capped polyfluorenes andoligofluorenes have been used and are working in similar manner. Itshould be noted, that any polyfluorene may be used wherein the sidechain, denoted by R may vary and the invention is in no way limited tothe ones shown in FIG. 2 a. Furthermore end-capped polyfluorenes andoligofluorenes may be used, such as are disclosed in European patentapplication EP00108877.2, filed on Apr. 26, 2000, which is herebyincorporated by reference. It should be noted, however, that for thepurposes of the present invention, the end-capping groups may be, but donot need to be charge transporting, as they were in the mentionedapplication. Two examples of such end-capped polyfluorenes having nocharge-transport end-capping groups at their respective ends are the twostructures shown at the bottom of FIG. 2 a, which have a biphenyl-groupand a phenylisobutyl group respectively as end-capping groups.

b) Metalloporphyrines, as Shown in FIG. 2 b

The metal (=M) and the substituents can be different, examples for themetal include Cu, Zn, Pd, and Pt.

c) Phthalocyanin (Pc) as Shown in FIG. 3 c, Wherein Two PossibleSidechains are Depicted.

EXAMPLE 3

FIG. 3 shows a demonstration for up-conversion in a multicomponentsystem. The emitter is PF26 doped with 1 wt. % PdOEP sensitiser. Thepumping is with 40 μW 405 nm, 120 mW 532 nm or the sum of the two.

In FIG. 3 a), the pumping is 405 nm, 200 ms 40 μW laser diode. Theirradiated spot is ca 4 μm in diameter.

In FIG. 3 b) the pumping is 405 nm, 200 ms 40 μW laser diode+532 nm 200ms, 120 mW laser. Irradiated spot ca 4 μm diameter.

In FIG. 3 c), the pumping is 532 nm, 200 ms, 120 mW laser. Irradiatedspot ca 4 μm diameter.

EXAMPLE 4

FIG. 4 shows the demonstration for up-conversion in a multicomponentsystem. The emitter is PF26 doped with different concentration of PdOEPsensitiser (FIG. 4 a: 2,3,4 wt. %, FIG. 4 b: 0.3,1 and 10 wt. %). Thepumping is 120 mW 532 nm laser, 200 ms irradiation time. It should benoted that the lowest pumping intensity at which up-conversion isregistered is 16 kW/cm² and is defined by the set-up sensitivity; thisis 6 orders of magnitude more efficient than systems reportedpreviously.

EXAMPLE 5

FIG. 5 shows the demonstration for up-conversion in a multicomponentsystem. The emitter is PF26 doped with 1 wt. % PdEP sensitiser. Thepumping is with (a) 8.6 mW, 200 ms, 532 nm, solid state laser or (b) 1.6mW 543 nm line HeNe laser 200 ms. The irradiated shot in both cases isca. 4 μm in diameter. As the wavelength of 543 nm is closer to theabsorption maximum of 549 nm (see Example 1) the sensitiser compound,the efficiency is much higher when pumping with this wavelength incomparison to 532 nm pump.

EXAMPLE 6

FIG. 6 shows the demonstration for up-conversion in a multicomponentsystem. The emitter is PF26 doped with 3 wt. % Pc (=plastocyanin)sensitiser. The pumping is with 300 mW, 200 ms, 532 nm, solid statelaser. The irradiated spot ca. 4 μm in diameter.

EXAMPLE 7

FIG. 7 shows the demonstration for up-conversion in a multicomponentsystem. It illustrates the dependence of the integral intensity of theup-converted PF{fraction (2/6)} emission on the pumping intensity. Theemitter is PF{fraction (2/6)}, doped with 3 wt. % of different metal(Pt, Cu, Pd, Zn) porphyrin sensitisers. The pumping occurs with 200 ms,532 run, solid state laser. The irradiated spot is ca. 4 μm i diameter.

FIG. 7 a) shows the values for the PF{fraction (2/6)} emission, when aPtOEP-sensitiser is used, which values are divided by 3 to enable acomparison with the other sensitiser systems; FIG. 7 b) shows the samedata for PtOEP sensitiser as measured and not corrected (i.e. notdivided by 3, as far as the PtOEP values are concerned).

It should be noted, that the invention is not limited to a particularpulse length of irradiating light. Although in the previous examples,generally pulse lengths of 200 ms have been used, other lengths can beenvisaged, covering the range of 500 fs up to hundreds of ms.

The features of the present invention disclosed in the specification,the claims and/or in the accompanying drawings, may, both separately,and in any combination thereof, be material for realising the inventionin various forms thereof.

1. A composition for photon energy up-conversion comprising at least twocomponents, wherein a first component is capable of absorbing energy ata first wavelength region w≦λ₁≦x, which first component acts as asensitiser in said composition, and wherein a second component iscapable of emitting energy at a second wavelength region y≦λ₂≦z, whichsecond component acts as an emissive component in said composition,wherein λ₂≦λ₁, and wherein, upon absorption of energy by said firstcomponent at said first wavelength region λ₁, said emissive componentemits energy at said second wavelength region λ₂, characterized in thatsaid first component and/or said second component is an organiccompound.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid first component is a first organic compound and said secondcomponent is a second organic compound.
 3. The composition according toclaims claim 1, characterized in that said first component is neithercovalently bonded nor complexed to said second component.
 4. Thecomposition according to claim 2, characterized in that said first andsaid second organic compounds are different compounds.
 5. Thecomposition according to claim 1, characterized in that said organiccompound, is a carbon-containing compound, with the proviso that it isnot a hydrogen-free chalcogenide of carbon, a derivative thereof, asalt-like carbide, a metallic carbide or a metal-carbonyl.
 6. Thecomposition according to claim 1, characterized in that said emissivecomponent's emitting energy at said second wavelength region λ₂ is dueto an up-conversion process based on direct or sequential two-photonexcitation or on direct or sequential multi-photon excitation or onexcitation of molecules populating high vibrational state(s) (“hot-bandabsorption”), which up-conversion process occurs upon absorption ofenergy by said first component at said first wavelength region λ₁. 7.The composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said secondwavelength region λ₂ is in the range 500-1500 nm and said firstwavelength region λ₁ is in the range 360-750 nm.
 8. The compositionaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said first component is anorganic dye, in particular a TPA-dye, an optical limiting compound, afullerene, carbon nanotubes, inorganic nanoparticles or inorganicnanocrystals.
 9. The composition according to claim 1, characterized inthat said second component is an organic dye or an inorganic emissivecomponent.
 10. The composition according to claim 1, characterized inthat at least one of said first and second component is an organic dye.11. The composition according to claim 10, characterized in that saidfirst component is a first organic dye and said second component is asecond organic dye, wherein said first and second organic dyes are thesame or different.
 12. The composition according to claim 10,characterized in that said organic dye, in particular said first and/orsaid second organic dye is selected from the group comprising organicdyes capable of direct and/or sequential two-photon excitation, organicdyes capable of direct and/or multi-photon excitation, organic dyescapable of non-linear absorption and organic dyes capable of hot-bandabsorption.
 13. The composition according to claim 10, characterized inthat said organic dye, in particular said first and/or said secondorganic dye, is selected from the group comprising styryl dyes,benzothiazole-containing two-photon chromophores, polyfluorenes,polyparaphenylenes, porphyrins, phthalocyanins, phthalocyanin complexes,xanthenes, and rhodamines.
 14. The composition according to claim 13,characterized in that said first organic dye is selected from the groupcomprising compounds showing non-liner absorption characteristics, inparticular optical limiting compounds, e.g. two-photon absorbing (TPA)dyes, wherein, preferably, it is selected from the group comprisingporphyrins and phthalocyanins, including metalloporphyrins,metallophthalocyanins, porphyrin complexes, phthalocyanin complexes,dimers/polymers as well as arrays of porphyrin or phthalocyaninmolecules and said second organic dye is selected from the groupcomprising compounds showing fluorescene emission in the range 360-750nm, in particular fluorescent dyes showing fluorescence emission in therange 360 nm-750 nm, e.g. polyfluorenes and oligofluorenes (with orwithout any sidechain pattern) and their copolymers, polyparaphenylenes,including polyparaphenylene vinylene, and polyphenyleneethinylenes. 15.The composition according to claim 14, characterized in that said firstorganic dye is a porphyrin or metalloporphyrin, in particularoctaethylporphyrin-Pd (or —Pt or —Zn or —Cu), and said second organicdye is a polyfluorene or oligofluorene with or without (different) sidechain patterns, in particular PF{fraction (2/6)}.
 16. The compositionaccording to claim 1, characterized in that said first and said secondcomponent are dispersed into a matrix.
 17. The composition according toclaim 16, characterized in that said matrix does not take part in anup-conversion-process.
 18. The composition according to claim 1,characterized in that said first component is dispersed into a matrixformed by said second component.
 19. The composition according to claim1, characterized in that said second component is dispersed into amatrix formed by said first component.
 20. The composition according toclaim 1, characterized in that said first component forms a first layerand said second component forms a second layer on top of or underneathsaid first layer.
 21. The composition according to claim 1,characterized in that said first and said second components form a multilayer structure, wherein said first component is present in a firstsubset of layers and said second component is present in a second subsetof layers, which first subset of layers is the same or different orpartially the same as said second subset of layers.
 22. A photon-energyup-conversion system comprising: a substrate, the composition accordingto claim
 1. 23. The system according to claim 22, which is aphotovaltaic device, in particular a solar cell, or which is an LED, alasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemical sensor, a temperaturesensor, or a label, preferably in biological/biochemical systems. 24.Use of the composition according to claim 1, in a solar cell, an LED, alasing medium, a sensor, in particular a chemical sensor, a temperaturesensor, or a label, preferably in biological/biochemical systems.